IP Library › Granted Patent US 11,980,182
Granted Patent B2
US 11,980,182 · App. 17/049,497 · Granted May 14, 2024

Cryogenic storage unit

Inventors: Dale Sandy (Nixa, MO); Sean Cantrell (Duluth, GA); Jonathan Greene (Canton, GA); Gilmer Edwards (Canton, GA)
Assignee: Azenta Life Sciences, Inc.
A01N1/0257A01N1/0252F25D3/105F17C2223/0161F25D19/006F25D29/001
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,980,182
App. No.
17/049,497
Granted
May 14, 2024
Kind
B2
Abstract

It is described herein an improved cryogenic storage unit ( 100 ). The improved cryogenic storage unit ( 100 ) may include an apparatus ( 1000 ) for thermal regulation in a cryogenic freezer ( 100 ). The improved cryogenic storage unit ( 100 ) may also include a cable gland ( 2000 ). The improved cryogenic storage unit ( 100 ) may also include a bearing assembly ( 3000 ). The improved cryogenic storage unit ( 100 ) may also include a system ( 4000 ) for charging a cryogen to a cryogenic freezer ( 100 ). The improved cryogenic storage unit ( 100 ) may also include a venting system ( 5000 ). The improved cryogenic storage unit ( 100 ) may also include an alignment of a lid ( 5300 ) and a handle ( 6000 ).

Claims (20)

1. An apparatus for thermal regulation ( 1000 ) of a cryogenic freezer comprising:

a mount section ( 1100 ) having an outer perimeter ( 1110 ) defining a first planar surface ( 1120 ) and a second planar surface ( 1130 ) opposite the first planar surface, and

a plurality of fins ( 1200 ) configured to be maintained in contact with a cryogen located in a bottom of an inner tank of the cryogenic freezer, with said plurality of fins extending from the second planar surface, each fin of the plurality of fins having a first end ( 1210 ) located adjacent to the second planar surface, a second end ( 1220 ) located opposite the first end, and a fin length dimension ( 1230 ) spanning from the first end to the second end, and

wherein the mount section comprises a plurality of locator holes ( 1140 ) passing through the mount section from the first planar surface to the second planar surface and at least one fin of the plurality of fins extends through one of the plurality of locator holes from the first planar surface through the second planar surface.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein at least one fin of the plurality of fins is directly attached to the first planar surface.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein each fin of the plurality of fins is directly attached to the first planar surface.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein each fin of the plurality of fins passes through a corresponding locator hole of the plurality of locator holes.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of dividers ( 1300 ) extending perpendicular from the first planar surface and having a first edge ( 1310 ), a second edge ( 1320 ) opposite the first edge, a third edge ( 1330 ) spanning a distance between the first edge and the second edge, and a fourth edge ( 1340 ) opposite the third edge and spanning the distance between the first edge and the second edge.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the first edge of at least one divider of the plurality of dividers is directly attached to the first planar surface.

7. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the first edge of each divider of the plurality of dividers is directly attached to the first planar surface.

8. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein at least one fin of the plurality of fins is located at a position on the second planar surface corresponding to a position on the first planar surface at which at least one divider of the plurality of dividers is located.

9. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein each fin of the plurality of fins is located at a position on the second planar surface corresponding to a position on the first planar surface at which at least one divider of the plurality of dividers is located.

10. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein at least one fin of the plurality of fins is integrally connected to the first edge of at least one divider of the plurality of dividers.

11. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein each fin of the plurality of fins is integrally connected to the first edge of at least one divider of the plurality of dividers, and each fin of the plurality of fins extends through a corresponding locator hole of the plurality of locator holes from the first planar surface to the second planar surface.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein each fin of the plurality of fins has a substantially identical fin length dimension.

13. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein each fin of the plurality of fins has an identical fin length dimension.

14. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of fins comprises at least a first fin ( 1240 ) located proximate to the outer perimeter, a second fin ( 1260 ) located proximate to a mount section center point ( 1150 ), and a plurality of intermediate fins ( 1250 ) located between the first fin and the second fin, wherein the fin length dimension of the first fin is less than the fin length dimension of the second fin.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the fin length dimension of each fin of the plurality of intermediate fins is greater than the fin length dimension of the first fin and less than the fin length dimension of the second fin.

16. The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the fin length dimension of each individual fin of the plurality of intermediate fins increases as the plurality of intermediate fins extends from the first fin to the second fin.

17. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the apparatus for thermal regulation is part of a cryogenic freezer.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 5, 2024
From: ABEYATECH, LLC
To: AZENTA US, INC.
Reel/Frame 066649/0984 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 21, 2020
From: SANDY, DALE; CANTRELL, SEAN; GREENE, JONATHAN; EDWARDS, GILMER
To: ABEYATECH, LLC
Reel/Frame 054130/0041 →
Continuity (4)
Provisional Application 62795340 · Jan 22, 2019
Provisional Application 62673995 · May 20, 2018
Provisional Application 62673994 · May 20, 2018
Related Publication 20210244018A1 · Aug 12, 2021